Sr. Rosalia (Mary Andrew) Riedel, CHM

Sister Rosalia (Mary Andrew) Riedel, CHM, 99, died at Bishop Drumm Care Center in Johnston, Iowa, on October 31, 2023.  Services will be on November 6, 2023, at Bishop Drumm Our Lady of Peace Chapel, Visitation 2 – 3:30 pm and Memorial Service, 3:30 pm; November 7, at Humility of Mary Center, Davenport, Iowa, Rosary and Visitation, 4 pm and Vigil Service, 7 pm; November 8, Mass of Christian Burial, 11 am, followed by interment at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Davenport.

Rosalia Louise Riedel was born November 23, 1923, in Milford, Ohio, to Dr. Ferdinand and Rosalia (Riehle) Riedel. She entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in 1945 and professed vows in 1948 as Sister Mary Andrew.

Sister earned an AA in Elementary Education from Ottumwa Heights College, Ottumwa, Iowa, and a BA from Marycrest College, Davenport. Decades later, she attended Scott Community College, Davenport, graduating as a Certified Nursing Assistant in 1994.

Sister Rosalia began teaching in Centerville, Iowa, in 1948, then St. Leo’s, Lewistown, Montana, Lourdes Memorial, Bettendorf, Iowa, St. Pius X, Rock Island, Illinois, and St. Mary’s, Albia, Iowa, from 1958-1962.  Over the next decade, she taught grade school and choir classes at St. Theresa’s, Des Moines, Iowa, St. Mary’s, Oskaloosa, Iowa, and Sacred Heart and St. Patrick’s in Ottumwa. Then she returned to St. Pius X, St. Mary’s, Centerville for 12 years and completed her teaching career at Lourdes Memorial School in 1986.  She served in evolving positions at Center for Aging Services, Inc. (CASI), in Davenport. Initially an assistant coordinator in 1986, she was a Program Facilitator when she retired in 1995.

In retirement, Sister remained active, serving as a volunteer in the CHM Archives at the Humility of Mary Center in Davenport, for CASI, and at the Pleasant Street Convent.

Sister had moved frequently as a child because of her father’s work as a veterinarian, traveling between Ohio and Kentucky before moving to Ottumwa. As an adult, she traveled frequently on bus tours, pilgrimages, for workshops, and for volunteer programs such as Seeds of Hope, visiting 22 states and Washington, DC, between 1973 and 2002.  In 1950, in accordance with Pope Pius XII’s declaration of a Holy Year, she traveled with Sodality of the Blessed Virgin on a tour of Marian shrines in Europe, allowing her to visit Lisbon, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Lourdes (France), Paris, and Lisieux.  She also took multiple trips to Canada and riverboat journeys up the Mississippi River.

After retiring, she wrote: “I think I enjoyed traveling because when I was young, I had lived in 3 states before I was 9.  Now that I am older and have trouble walking, I would rather stay home.”

Sister loved music, cards, jigsaw puzzles, and assembling photo albums dedicated to her travels. Her joyful optimism brought light to those around her.

She is preceded in death by her parents, five brothers and one sister. She is survived by many nieces and nephews and her CHM community.

Memorials may be made to the Congregation of the Humility of Mary.

Online remembrances may be expressed at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.